Palm activated drug delivery device

A method of injecting a medication from a medication delivery device of the type including an upper housing, a lower housing, a syringe supported by the lower housing and having a needle, and a needle guard supported by the lower housing, the method comprising the steps of:

• placing the medication delivery device against a skin surface so as to cause the needle guard to abut the skin surface, wherein the upper housing is releasably locked with respect to movement toward the needle by a housing latch that interferes with the upper housing;
• applying a force against the upper housing along an insertion direction, thereby causing the skin surface to force the needle guard to retract relative to the lower housing and thereby expose the needle so as to insert the needle into the skin surface;
• during the applying step, causing the housing latch to move out of interference with the upper housing;
• continuing to apply the force against the upper housing along the insertion direction, thereby causing the upper housing to move toward the needle, thereby driving a medication contained within the syringe out of the needle;
• moving the medication delivery device away from the skin surface along a direction opposite the insertion direction so as to remove the needle from the skin surface and cause the needle guard to advance relative to the needle to a final position whereby the needle guard substantially encapsulates the needle;
• and
• causing the housing latch to lock the needle guard in the final position.